Database Systems Researcher (Research Coding Tasks)

$80/hr

rate as listed

Workload: ~15h/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: Worldwide
Field: STEM and Coding

Turn published database systems research and released code into benchmarked coding tasks for frontier AI agents. Define hidden evaluations and performance thresholds, build reference solutions, and review agent attempts.

The work

You will start from a recent database systems paper with released code, ideally your own. The task is to remove the implementation of its core contribution, package the remaining repository so an AI agent can rebuild it, and write a precise task statement grounded in the paper's original benchmarks.

Evaluation design

For each task, you will define held-out workloads and pass thresholds for each relevant metric. You will also provide a hidden reference solution and a second implementation demonstrating that the required performance bar can be exceeded, then review agent attempts for correctness, reproducibility and benchmark performance.

Screening

The platform looks for a PhD in computer science or a related field, completed or in progress, plus published database systems research with released code. Relevant areas include query optimization, storage engines, indexing and learned database components. Applicants should be ready to provide publication and artifact links, explain measured improvements over baselines, and support details through follow-up and background checks.

Logistics

The contract is fully remote, asynchronous and flexible. Each task is expected to take a few hours, and the listing does not state a fixed weekly commitment. Comfort with Docker and reproducible benchmark environments is preferred.

Pay band: $80/hr

What they look for

Published database systems research with released code
PhD in computer science or a related field, completed or in progress
Database systems expertise in areas such as query optimization, storage engines, indexing or learned components
Research benchmark and held-out workload design
Performance-threshold and metric definition
Ability to package, modify and evaluate research code

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This verifies that you can connect a specific publication to an accessible implementation and explain your own contribution to both.
A strong answer: Name the paper, venue, year and repository or artifact, then distinguish your research and engineering contributions from those of your coauthors. Briefly identify the database problem, baseline and measured result.
Where people lose it: Citing a paper without a working artifact link, or describing a group project without clarifying which code and experiments you personally handled, weakens verification.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

STEM AND CODING on Sidequest

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